Wimpey’s Café was a converted trolley car diner that was located at 106 S. Court, squeezed into a small lot between the Marion Motel Courts and a corner gas station located at the intersection of W. Main and S. Court Streets. It was established by Bunice Tyner in 1953. Tyner also operated numerous taverns in Marion and the surrounding area since 1941.
For the most part, the diner was operated by Bunice’s wife, Louina, and was a popular place to eat. Unfortunately, Bunice appears to have gotten tangled up in problems involved in the ownership, operation and licensing of pinball and jukebox machines used in his taverns, which at the time were controlled by a syndicate.
Tyner was found murdered in his car south of Goreville in January 1960.
After his murder, Louina continued management of the diner until it was heavily damaged by fire on Wednesday, May 4, 1966. In the fire report, it stated that the diner was reportedly owned by Elmo Farris, who also owned the Marion Motel Courts next door, and that he was ready to close the restaurant anyway in order to add the property to the motel operation.
To date, no photos of the diner have ever been located, which is a shame. Tyner’s murder remains as a Marion cold case.
Wimpey’s Café Hit by Fire; Loss Heavy, Southern Illinoisan, May 4, 1966
Fire gutted Wimpey’s Café, 106 S. Court St., Marion, early today, according to the Fire Department.
City firemen said that they were summoned to the scene at 12:30 a.m. and that flames already had gutted the establishment operated by Mrs. Louina Tyner and reportedly owned by Elmo Farris. The latter was reportedly ready to close Wimpey’s and add that property to the motel already in operation.
Firemen said that the loss was heavy, the interior being lost to the flames. It had been a longtime landmark in the eating line in Marion.
Fire Chief James C. Dungey and Mrs. Tyner went over the Wimpey property this morning and he reported that flames apparently started from defective wiring overhead.
Chief Dungey was quick to point out that a box of matches about three feet from the floor was untouched by the flames.
The fire chief was ready to turn over the findings to the police department for reference.
Wimpey’s had been closed since 10 p.m. Sunday, Mrs. Tyner said.
(Data extracted from the Southern Illinoisan, May 4, 1954 and January 29, 1960; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 12/24/2013)